Serbia arrests 3 hooligans for threats to reporter

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -Serbia's police said Friday they arrested three football hooligans after Partizan Belgrade fans chanted death threats against a television journalist at a Europa League match.

Police said they are investigating others present at Partizan's match Wednesday with Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, when thousands of Partizan fans lashed out at B92 TV journalist Brankica Stankovic.

Hard-core supporters chanted threats and insults while tossing around and puncturing an inflatable rubber effigy of Stankovic.

A recent TV documentary by Stankovic reported that fan leaders of Partizan Belgrade and other Serbian clubs are suspected of serious crimes, including drug trafficking and murder, but remain free.

The popular "Insider" documentary also reported that violent fan groups are closely linked to far-right groups and anti-Western nationalist politicians.

Football fans were behind last year's burning of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade during the protests against Kosovo's independence, as well as the fatal beating in September of a French Toulouse fan in a Belgrade cafe.

Hooligans also are believed responsible for a series of recent attacks in Serbia against liberals, gays and foreigners. Serbia's first gay pride march in years was canceled in September over extremist threats.

The Partizan Belgrade club condemned the threats against Stankovic in a statement Friday, urging state action. A government sports commission said the authorities are doing all they can to curb violence.